In tight voting, Brit Selby of the Toronto Maple Leafs was awarded the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1965-66. He finished just ahead of runner-up Bert Marshall of the Detroit Red Wings with Gilles Marotte (Boston Bruins), Bernie Parent (Boston Bruins) and Garry Peters (New York Rangers) also in the running.
In that 1965-66 NHL season, Selby scored 14 and assisted on 13 for 27 points over 61 regular season games. These were nearly career high numbers, just behind his 15 goals and 30 points with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1967-68.
In that rookie season, Brit recorded his only NHL hat trick. On January 15, 1966 at Maple Leafs Gardens, Selby had three goals in a 6-1 win over the Boston Bruins. All three were scored on Boston goalie Bernie Parent. He led with six of the 47 shots put toward Parent in the game.
Between 1964-65 and 1971-72, Brit Selby played 347 regular season and 16 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Maple Leafs, Flyers and St. Louis Blues. From 1972-73 to 1974-75, he played 153 regular season and 23 playoff games in the WHA with the Quebec Nordiques, New England Whalers and Toronto Toros. He helped the Whalers to an Avco World Trophy championship in 1972-73.